Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Virginia issued an Opinion in Brooks-Buck v. Wahlstrom, No. 250246 (Oct. 16, 2025), that clarifies the scope of legislative immunity for school board...

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, reshaping the landscape of employment discrimination law.

Many local governments and school boards have struggled with how to maintain decorum during public comment opportunities they provide and keep the focus on local concerns within the power of the...

How much is “too much” when it comes to punishment? From Virginia courts to the U.S. Supreme Court, judges have wrestled with punitive damages and the fine line between deterrence...

Residential real estate development is a high-stakes business. Managing financing, construction timelines, local approvals, and ultimate sales can lead even experienced developers to overlook...

What began with the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) February 2025 Dear Colleague Letter has now unraveled into injunctions, stays, and ultimately a ruling that voided the guidance and its...

The Court of Appeals of Virginia (Court of Appeals) recently confirmed that a school board employee, who is sued in his or her official capacity, is entitled to sovereign immunity in tort. The...

In Blair v. Appomattox County School Board, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reiterated how educators are judged under Title IX when responding to peer-on-peer sexual harassment allegations....

Many different federal and state laws require employers to provide “reasonable” accommodations. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act...

General contractors who contract with owner/developers and who construct large, complex projects such as office buildings, shopping centers, and warehouses, often seek to shift the risk of...

Employers often ask: “How long do I have to hold a job open for someone on extended medical leave?” The Fourth Circuit recently tackled this issue in Coffman v. Nexstar Media, offering helpful...

A ruling by the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) has clarified that school divisions have the legal right to seek attorney’s fees from special education advocates who repeatedly engage in...

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a school division’s use of LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks without allowing parental opt-outs unconstitutionally burdened religious freedom. This decision...

As purchasers of goods and services, many community associations have felt the impact of recent inflation and rising prices. While prices have continued to rise, community associations still must...

Effective July 1, 2025, Virginia is implementing several key changes affecting real estate transactions, land use approvals, local governance, and secured lending. Below is a comprehensive...

Last August, Sands Anderson reported that the Federal Trade Commission’s rule banning non-competes was probably dead. While many employers likely breathed a sigh of relief after a federal judge...

Healthcare professionals working in hospitals and other settings face heightened risks of workplace violence, often from behaviorally unstable and volatile patients or visitors. A new law signed...

The following sections summarize key Virginia employment statutes and principles of employment law. The summaries are not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the laws and/or their judicial...

In a May 2025 decision, Under Wild Skies, Inc. v. National Rifle Association of America, the Supreme Court of Virginia declined to incorporate the doctrine of “adequate assurance” (Restatement...

Thinking about selling your business or a piece of real estate? You’ll likely need to start with a Letter of Intent (LOI), so it is important to know the basics before you dive in.